Chapter Six

There were about 20 new players trying out for the Gryffindor team. 12 Chasers, 8 beaters, and one keeper…Ron. There were 2 chaser positions and 2 beater positions open. So Harry began splitting the students into groups, 4 groups of chasers, 4 of beaters, and the only person trying out for keeper was Ron. Harry frowned; there was no sight of Mia anywhere.

Suddenly Harry felt a tap on his right shoulder, so he turned to his right…there was no one there…so her turned to his left to see…

Mia giggling, "I got you."

"Hardy Har, Hardy Har…very funny…so are you trying out for Chaser or Keeper?"

"Keeper, the flyer said that it was open…is it not too late?" she asked.

"Naw…you have perfect timing." He started to walk off when Mia ran over to his side.

"Here," she said dropping a black shiny stone onto his hand. "All you have to do is tap it with your wand and say replay. Then you can pick the game you want to watch or watch them in order. You can even make it so only you can hear it."

Harry looked at the ordinary stone, not quite sure what to make of it, but decided to try it out later, "Cool, thanks."

"You're welcome," she replied, "Um…is it okay if I borrow one of the school brooms…I don't have one."

"Yeah, sure…" she headed off when a thought occurred to him, "Mia wait, why not use Ron's broom, that way, no one's at a disadvantage."

"Sure, that works," Mia said.

So Harry called Ron over who agreed…reluctantly. He, being the gentleman that he is…after a nudge from Harry…offered to let Mia go first. But they'd have to wait till the chasers went, then the beaters.

The chasers, under Ginny's tutelage were doing excellent…well those that could keep on their brooms were fairing well. At least that narrowed the field to 7. They took off passing, dodging, swerving, rolling, and scoring; which brought the field to 4. That would be hard to judge.

Next were the beaters, 3 were sent away, all they wanted to do was smack the ball anywhere no direction or respect at all. Two completely missed the bludger as they went to swing, which left only 3…another hard choice.

Last came the Keepers. Harry had devised a way last year to help Ron keep his place on the team. 3 levels, the first with one chaser throwing goals, the second with 3 chasers and 3 Quaffles, and then the final level where a bludger was added. It was a way to challenge Ron as well as make others reconsider their idea to join as a Keeper.

Ron handed Mia his Nimbus 2000, who rose steadily in the air, up to the hoops. She readied herself against Ginny. Ginny threw easy catches, then difficult, then tricky…but Mia caught them with ease. Ginny was starting to get a little angry with Mia, she knew that the girl beat out Ron, when the other girls joined each was armed with a Quaffle. They took aim and fired at a different time. Mia shot about, zigging and zagging, catching the Quaffles retuning them. The girls threw harder, in odd directions hoping to catch her off. Harry blew the whistle signaling for the bludger to be set out.

Mia turned her broom slightly to view him better, she didn't know about the bludger. But when she saw them head to the box she figured it out. She turned back in time to see a Quaffle shot right at her head. She swung her broom around to hit the Quaffle back at Ginny, equally as hard.

This started another round, with Mia catching the Quaffles while avoiding the Bludger. She was struggling but still no goal had been made. Harry blew the whistle again, freezing the bludger as well to put it back in the box. Mia flew back down, handing a very stunned Ron his broom back. He took a large gulp before heading up to the goals, awaiting the command to start.

Harry walked over to Mia, "That was bloody brilliant," he said.

A few strands of brown hair had fallen out of Mia's bun, and a small layer of sweat matted her brow, but to Harry, she had never looked more beautiful…"Beautiful?" he asked himself, silently, "Yes, beautiful…"

"So, I did ok?" she asked still slightly out of breath.

"OK?" Harry asked, "That was excellent!"

Mia smiled, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

"OY! Harry!" he heard Ron yell, before remembering that his friend still had to go.

"Sorry!" he called back, blowing the whistle a moment later. He watched as Ginny threw a few easy shots…and then more easy shots. Harry frowned; he already knew that Ron wouldn't be named Keeper. So far he'd lost 3 of Ginny's throws and the other two chaser-try outs were heading up.

Needless to say, Ron did horribly. He was doing exactly what he did in the games, reacting too slow and missing it, or too fast and going out of bounds, or try to make a save look spectacular when it really wasn't. He'd given up by the time the bludger was supposed to be released. He'd simply flown down, saying that he'd gotten something in his eye and needed to go to the Hospital Wing. Ginny went with him…and that's how try outs were concluded, with about four possible chasers, three could be beaters, and only one seeker, keeper and chaser se…and Ron on the verge of a tantrum.